Electric feeler mechanism for filling detection in looms



April 10, 1951 R. G. CLARK 2,548,348

ELECTRIC FEELER MECHANISM FOR FILLING DETECTION IN LOOMS Filed Feb. 5, 1948 Fig.

xv Robert 6. Clark zzvwzzvroza.

Mw m

Patented Apr. 10, 1951 ELECTRIC FEELER MECHANISM FOR FILLING DETECTION IN LOOMS Robert G. Clark, Eufaula, Ala. Application February 3, 1948, Serial No. 6,103

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in electric feeler mechanism for detecting filling exhaustion in looms.

The primary object of my invention is to provide electric feeler mechanism, of the side slip feeler finger type, but, in which a feeler finger for closing an electric circuit, for a stop motion, or the like, is released when the filling on the bobbin is exhausted for operation to close a circuit without engagement of the finger with the bobbin spindle and whereby frictional locking of the finger against said spindle, with consequent failure in operation of the mechanism, is positively prevented and quicker release of the finger is attained than with similar mechanisms as commonly constructed.

Another object is to provide mechanism of the character and for the purpose above set forth which is simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is not liable to get out of order from prolonged use.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently clearly appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a View partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of my improved electric feeler mechanism in the preferred embodiment thereof with the parts shown in normal position and the contact closing detection feeler finger locked in normal position and fully advanced with the pilot feeler finger;

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the pilot feeler finger and the contact closing detection feeler finger fully retracted while the contact closing detection feeler finger is locked in normal position;

Figure 3 is another similar view illustrating the contact closing detection feeler finger unlocked and in contact closing position;

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation of the mechanism connected to' a source of electric energy.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals, my improved electric feeler mechanism, as illustrated, comprises a shallow, preferably rectangular, casing I of any suitable material with a bobbin is moved by the beat up stroke of the lay,

not shown, of said loom.

suitably secured, detachable, cover plate 2, and

which is adapted to be fixed on and insulated from, in any desired manner, a bracket 3 on a loom frame 4 so that said casing is disposed in the path of movement of a bobbin 5 when said A pilot feeler finger 6 of bar-like form, and suitable metal, is slidably mounted in front and rear guide recesses 8, 1 in front and rear ends In, 9 of said casing l, with a sidewise tapered, reduced, front feeler end II adapted to be engaged at its tip with filling F on the bobbin 5 during thedriving stroke of the lay. The pilot feeler finger 6 is endwise slidable in said recesses 1, 8 clear of the bottom of the casing l for reciprocation to: be advanced toward the bobbin 5 and be retracted by engagement of the filling F therewith during said beat up stroke of the lay. A coil. spring I2 in the casing with one end attached, as at [3, to the front end 1 of said casing, and with its other end attached to a lateral stud l4 on said feeler finger 6, functions to advance said feeler finger in limited degree and to tension said feeler finger against retraction.

A contact closing, filling detection, feeler finger l5, of bar-like form and any suitable material, is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at It, in a recess I! in the pilot feeler finger 6 for endwise reciprocation therewith and for swinging on its pivot l6 into and from a normal position in a plane parallel with that of said feeler finger 6. In the normal position of said detection feeler finger I5, a front end portion I8 thereof, forwardly of the pivot l6, closes on the front feeler end 9 of said feeler finger 6 and establishes the normal position of said detection feeler finger [5. The front end portion |8 is provided with an L- head [9 serrated crosswise, as at 20, to interfit with the thread of the filling ID. The L-head I9 is spaced slightly rearwardly of the tip of the; front feeler end 9 of the pilot feeler finger 6, for instance a distance slightly less than the gauge of the thread of the filling F, and for a purpose presently seen. A rear end crank 2| on said detection feeler finger l5 extends in the casing I to one side of the pilot feeler finger 6 and forms a movable contact, in a manner presently clear.

A conductor rod 22 is pivoted at a front end thereof, as at 23, to said crank 2| to extend alongside the pilot feeler 6 and is slidably extended out of the front end [0 of the casing I. A nut 24 on the front end of the conductor rod 22 is adapted to engage said front end [0 when thepilot feeler finger 6 is fully advanced and exert a pull on the crank 2| to swing said detection feeler finger IS on the pivot I6 into normal position.

A coil spring 25 on the conductor rod 22 is interposed between the front end [0 of said casing l and a fixed collar 26 on said rod and tensions said rod against rearward sliding movement.

A leaf spring contact bar 21 in the casing l extends along one side thereof for engagement by the crank 2]. A bolt 28 passing through one end of said bar 21 and through an insulator 29 fixed in said side of the casing l secures said bar 21 in positioniclear of .the casing lgand, has a nut 39 thereonforming with said bolt a binding post. A nut 3| on the rear end of the conductor rod 22 coacts with the nut 24 to form a binding post on said rod.

An electromagnet 32 is suitably -fixed on the cover plate 2 with a pivoted right angled armature member 33 thereon. A lead 34 extends from,

one side of the field of the electromagnetvtogthe rear end of the conductor rod'22. Another lead 35 extends from the other side of saidffieldto one side of a suitable source of electric energy, such as a battery B, from the other side ofzwhich a lead 36 extends to the'bolt 28 Referring now to the operation of the invention: As shown inFigure l, the pilot ieeler finger 6 is normally advanced by the coilspring l2 and the contact closing detection feeler'finger ,l; is normally swung into normal position by the pull of the conductor rod 25 against the crank 2! in the, manner previously described so that in the fully advanced'positionof the pilot feeler finger 6, and the contact closing detection feeler finger 15, said finger I5 is" held in normal position. Now,

when the bobbin 5 is initially moved by the driving stroke of the "lay, and while filling F is on said bobbin 5, the tip of thepilot ieeler fingerfi engages said fillingF and sinks into thesame suificiently to permit :the head 19 of 'the contact closing detection feeler finger ii to bite into said filling F andthereby lock said-detection feeler finger I5 in normal. position during further movement of the bobbin 5 under the driving stroke of the lay. Therefore, during further .movement of the bobbin 5 by driving-movement oi the lay, the pilot feeler finger B and said detection feeler finger Hi are retracted in opposition to the springs I2, 25, without said detec- |5 being swung from-normal tion ieeler finger position, as shown'in Figure 2, and, as the bobbin 5 recedes, said pilot and detection feeler fingers 6, [5 are advanced under the conjoint action of said springs 42, 25. However, when the filling F is exhausted from the bobbin 5, the tip of ,the front feeler end 9 of the pilot feeler fingerlG will engage the empty bobbin spindle 36' inadvance of the head I!) of said detection feeler finger l5 so that said head will clear said spindle sufficiently for said detection feeler finger Hi to be unlocked, in a manner which will be clear. -As soon as this occurs, the contact closing detection feeler finger I5 is swung from normal position, as the pilot feeler finger 6 is--retracted, by pressure of the spring tensioned conductor1.-rod 22 against the crank 21. As said detection feeler finger l5 swings out of normal position, said crank 2l wipingly engages the contact barvfi, as shown in Figure 3, to close circuit to the electromagnet 32 which thereupon-attracts thearmature 33 which may be arranged either toclose a usual loom stop motion. circuit not shown,

and/or to operate the-usual shipperlever, not showmfor stopping a loom.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to. im-

part a clear understanding of'my invention, with- -out further explanation.

' Maniiestly, theinvention,- as described, is susceptible of modification. without departing from contact member in said casing, an electric cong-the filling on the bobbin saidpart. is engaged with said contact member,

magnet on said casing part is, engaged agement by the filling on said finger is adapted 1 to be retracted by such ,feeler, finger pivoted on the first -.tric-.contact member contact part on said second feeler finger for engagement with said member by swinging of said finger slidably. mounted Nance andretraction and, having a tip fo i ,engagement by the said fingercis adapted, to beretracted by such .movement of ,said bobbin, spring means yieldn ly ma a ni s i a casing ,mounted on said loom in the path of movement of the bobbin when said bobbin is moved by the driving stroke of the lay, a feeler finger slidably mounted in said casing for advanceiand retraction and having a tip for en- -c-gagernent by the filling on the bobbin whereby said finger is adapted to be retracted by such :movementof said bobbin, spring means yieldingly maintaining said finger advanced, a second feeler finger pivoted on the first ieeler finger for advance and retraction thereby and swinging movement thereon from a normal position when thefilling on ,the ,bobbin is exhausted, an electrlc tact part on said second feeler finger for engagement with said-member by swingingof said second finger out of normal position, meansiin said casing for swinging saidsecond ieeler finger out of normal position when said second feeler finger is retracted by the first feeler finger when the filling on the bobbin is exhausted, an electrowith apivoted armature adapted for connectionin a stop motion circuit to close the same, and means for electrically connecting coppositesides of said magnet when said with said contact member.

2., .In an electric ieeier mechanism for, detecting filling exhaus ion on the bobbin of a loom, a casing mounted onsaidloomin the path oi movement of thebobbin when said bobbin; is

moved by the driving stroke of the lay, a feeler finger slidablyrnounted; insaid casing for advance and retraction and having a tip for enthe bobbin whereby movement of said bobbin, spring means yieldingly maintaining said finger advanced, a-second I ieeler fingerqior advance vand retraction thereby and swinging movement thereon from a normal position when the filling on the bcbbinis exhausted, an elecin said casing, an electric second feeler out of normal, position, means in said casing for; swinging said second feelerfinger out of normal position when said second'feeler finger-is retracted by thefirst feeler -finger,-and

is exhausted, an electromagnet on saidcasing with a pivoted armature ,adap ed for connection ,in a stopmotion circuit to close the same, and means forelectrically connecting opposite .sides of .said ,magnet when wipingly engaged by said contact part.

3., In an electric feeler meichahism fordetecting filling exhaustion on the bobbin of a loom, a

casing,,rnountedon, said loom in the path of movement of .the bobbin when said ibobbin is moved by-the driving strokeof thelay, a ieeler in said casing for adfilling on jthe bobbin whereby fi g r a van a se qnd feeler finger pivoted on'the first feeler fingerfor advance and retraction thereby and swinging movement thereon from a normal position when the filling on the bobbin is exhausted, an electric contact member in said casing, an electric contact part on said second feeler member for engagement with said member by swinging of said second feeler finger out of normal position, means in said casing for swinging said second feeler finger out of normal position when said second feeler finger is retracted by the first feeler finger and the filling on the bobbin is exhausted, electromagnetic means on said casing adapted for connection in a stop motion to operate the same, and means for rendering said electromagnetic means effective when said part is engaged with said contact member.

ROBERT G. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Waters Jan. 23, 1934 

